For a child with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), any combination of those things could just be too much to handle, too much to process. They need a life line, a steady object to help them find their place in their environment.

I’ve always prided myself on being an exceptional multitasker. I love having tons of projects going on at the same time. Even when my life becomes stressful and hectic, there’s nothing better than the feeling of relief and accomplishment when I can check off my To-Do list. I’ve always worked 2...

In the heat of the moment, when those “terrible two’s” begin to take hold of your child for the first time, it can be really hard to recognize what is actually happening versus what it “feels” like is happening.

This particular shop in New Paltz doesn’t have a drive-thru window which I didn’t think much of until I started seeing a really amazing thing happening….the customers, and tons of them, smiling and laughing with the staff like they were all friends. Every. Single. Morning. I felt like I was watching an episode of Cheers.

My son is not a fan of other kids. When we go to the park he likes watching the other kids run around, but he doesn’t want to play with them. And that’s okay. We’re working on helping him have fun in a social settings without getting upset at the chaos, noise, and unpredictability of other child...

We can debate whether this movie was awesome or awful later, but for now, this theme is resonating with me as a parent. I want so much to do the right thing for my son, to give him the best life I can, but ultimately, the person he becomes will be his choice. Just as it was my choice growing up.

Sometimes asking a child to “Be Quiet”, “Sit Still”, or “Pay Attention” can be an impossible request. They don’t yet understand how to. A Sensory Diet will help them transition their energy throughout the day.

One of the hardest things I’ve had to do in Early Intervention is teach my son flexibility, but it’s so very important for us both, to learn how to cope when things aren’t the same. If your child, like mine, is rigid with reading time, here’s a few ways to broaden their reading experience.

Children with SPD struggle with regulating their senses. In an effort to normalize what they are feeling, children will modify their play and actions depending on how much or how little sensory input they need.

SPD is so much more than just an “over sensitivity”. For some children on the spectrum, it can also mean that their bodies aren’t sensitive enough and may even get hurt because they don’t feel pain. Sensory Processing Disorder, in the very basic of terms, really means that there’s a breakdown of how the person is receiving and filtering stimulation.

Children on the spectrum often have challenges expressing and understanding emotions. The subtle social cues, that we take for granted, can be met with confusion or missed entirely. Using multiple reinforcements through play and social stories is the approach that helped my son.

Even before my son received the ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) diagnosis, life was very challenging. Way more challenging than it should be for first time parents and a new baby.

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